Thread: A week off

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Thanks for taking the time to share your trip! Roger's friend sure has a nice collection! That's very cool.

He's a retired new car dealer, now in his mid 80's and working the internet every day "playing" in the collector car arena. A couple of years back he bought a strip center office building, the traditional slab on grade, hallway down the middle, offices on either side and gutted it. Then he got an architect to spread the columns to form a wider open space in the middle, and finished it as his "display area". He's a great guy, has some very nice cars, and lots of stories if you get him started on the "old days" around Kansas City. My Father-In-Law was sort of a mentor to him about 50 years ago, and some of those stories are side splitters!!

Roger, that's pretty neat. The sad thing is, when guys like him are gone, will there be many to take their place? I wonder that as I don't see many people my age or younger staying in this hobby.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Thanks for taking the time to share your trip! Roger's friend sure has a nice collection! That's very cool.

It's been my pleasure (so far).. the weather was great too.. Although the flight home was canceled 'cause of some psycho who killed the Chicago Airport radar system..


Roger.. Header Pipes?? WHAAAAAAAaaaattttt??? Speak up!

Originally Posted by 34_40

It's been my pleasure (so far).. the weather was great too.. Although the flight home was canceled 'cause of some psycho who killed the Chicago Airport radar system..


Roger.. Header Pipes?? WHAAAAAAAaaaattttt??? Speak up!

I heard about that! It was weird that our flight inbound was an hour late and that was due to that. From what they told us is the disgruntled employee wrapped towels soaked in gas around control cables/wiring and lit them up knocking out the communication for O'Hare. Crazy.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I heard about that! It was weird that our flight inbound was an hour late and that was due to that. From what they told us is the disgruntled employee wrapped towels soaked in gas around control cables/wiring and lit them up knocking out the communication for O'Hare. Crazy.

The sad thing is that they're saying now that if you're planning to travel in the next two weeks you need to check your flight info because it may take that long to get Chicago back to 100%, and delays there will ripple across the country, and can even affect international connections.... Idiots!

Originally Posted by 34_40

Well, now that I've rambled on and on... standby for some more pics! Hope your enjoying "the ride" !

Enjoying the ride?
Hell yes!
Roger took us to that same collection at the dealership/museum...absolutely loved it.
Some of the cars have changed since our visit; but it's still an awesome display.

Originally Posted by 34_40

And I'd like to again say thanks to Roger & Sue Spears for the hospitality / friendship / camaraderie, they made my trip special! (OH and Bones Too!!!)

Roger and Susan are superb hosts, we too owe them a huge thank-you for their hospitality. An awesome couple.

And the roar of the 33's lake pipes...man, I can relate to that!
Things got a bit frustrating when we left the Old Marais run...inching along in traffic...and fuses were getting a bit short.

But twenty minutes on the open road with the lake pipes at full noise and both of us had grins from ear to ear.

Bloody gorgeous!

Makes you realise why we drive the cars we do.

Finally managed to find the time to have a good slow study of all the photo's Mike so one big thank-you from me too. I found it hard to say which car I would really like to own as there were all of a high standard. The '40 Ford Convert and the '50's Chevy Convert were two that really stood out to me and they were stock.

Thanks for sharing those pics,Mike.. Awesome bunch of cars n trucks..Gotta say,,the detail on that interior of that Great 8 wagon is mind boggling.. Loved that 37 pickup,too.. Thanks again for the trouble you went to in the dialogue on them.. Kool..

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Finally managed to find the time to have a good slow study of all the photo's Mike so one big thank-you from me too. I found it hard to say which car I would really like to own as there were all of a high standard. The '40 Ford Convert and the '50's Chevy Convert were two that really stood out to me and they were stock.

Originally Posted by lamin8r

Thanks for sharing those pics,Mike.. Awesome bunch of cars n trucks..Gotta say,,the detail on that interior of that Great 8 wagon is mind boggling.. Loved that 37 pickup,too.. Thanks again for the trouble you went to in the dialogue on them.. Kool..

Glad you enjoyed the trip so far.. and thanks for the replies!

And then I ended up on the doorstep of the Smith Collection museum.. I had heard about the place and knew that changes were coming and wanted to see it as it was when Bill was alive. Maybe next year (or two) I'll go back and see the effects of change.

So here's the first thing you see in the lobby, right above the sign in and cashier!

Oh yeah... this is gonna be good!!

And next was Nirvana! This one car had it all for me. I had read all about these cars a long time ago and to see it first hand was just to cool... dig the cylinder heads!

This car was recently over to Indy to "re-connect" with 2 of the other 4 that qualified for the 1935 race. Wish I had known about that day.. I'd have gone there instead!

Oh, and this was still in the day of the cars carrying a mechanic! check out the second seat!

More jewelry.. a room full of Millers! I was in heaven..

One thing to note is the engine stands. None 2 are alike, they are all different and fabbed on site also they try to reflect the era or installation. Some of them are simply elegant!

And another Miller, this time a marine version.

And the Small (4 cylinder) Miller Marine

And now the BIG Miller!
Wish they had a soundtrack playing of one of these!

Also in this same room was Leo Goossen's desk and drafting machine and Harry Millers desk and some of his office equipment!